Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Most Americans Believe Health Care Law Will Be Implemented:
Poll
About seven in 10 Americans believe the Obama administration's
health care law will go fully into effect with some changes, a
nationwide survey of 1,334 adults finds.
Only 12 percent of respondents said they expect the Affordable
Care Act to be repealed completely, according to the
Associated Press-GfKonline poll conducted Aug. 3-13.
Forty-one percent believe the law will be fully implemented with
minor changes, 31 percent said it will be implemented with major
changes, and 11 percent expect it will be implemented as
passed.
Sixty percent of those ages 18 to 29 think the law will be
implemented with only minor changes or none at all.
People 65 and older are most likely to oppose the bill and those
younger than 45 are less likely to be against it, the
APreported.
Forty-nine percent of respondents said they want the law
repealed completely, while 44 percent said it should be implemented
as written. Even though Republicans are overwhelmingly opposed to
the law and in favor of repeal, only 21 percent believe that will
actually happen, the poll found.
There's been little change in public opinion since the law was
passed in 2010. At that time, 30 percent supported the law and 40
percent opposed it. Those figures are now 32 percent and 36
percent, respectively, the
APreported.
Knowledge about the law is increasing. The poll found that more
people know about rules that allow adult children to stay on their
parents' coverage until age 26, protect people with pre-existing
medical conditions, and impose insurance mandates on individuals
and businesses, the
APreported.
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Seniors May Face Large Medicare Drug Plan Premium Hikes
Many seniors could face double-digit premium hikes for their
Medicare prescription drug plans next year if they don't look for a
better deal, according to the private firm Avalere Health.
All of the 10 most popular plans will have premium increases
next year, but the most popular plan -- AARP Medicare Rx Preferred
-- is only rising 57 cents per month, from $39.85 to $40.42, the
Associated Pressreported.
Two other plans in the top 10 will also have single-digit
increases: SilverScript Basic (8 percent) and WellCare Classic (3
percent), the
APsaid.
Seven plans will have double-digit increases, Avalere said.
These are: the Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan (23 percent); First
Health Part D Premier (18 percent); First Health Part D Value Plus
(17 percent); Cigna Medicare Rx Plan One (15 percent); Express
Scripts Medicare-Value (13 percent); the HealthSpring Prescription
Drug Plan (12 percent); and Humana Enhanced (11 percent).
"The average senior is going to benefit by carefully scrutinizing their situation, because every year the market changes," Avalere President Dan Mendelson said, the APreported.